Collapsible carton



March 24, 1959 w. H. INMAN COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 2 Shets-Sheet 1 lfiledJune 6; i956 INVEN TOR. WILLIAM INMA/V HIS ATTORNEY March 1959 w, H.INMAN 2,878,987

COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed June 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAMH. l/VMAN HIS ATTORNEY Un fifd t s Pat 'zjQi COLLAPSIBLE CARTON WilliamH.,Inman, Newark, N. assignor to Bloomer gm: Company, Newark, N.Y., acorporation of New Application June 6, 1956, Serial No. 589,698 2Claims. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to collapsible cartons madeof fibrous material, such as cardboard, for packaging ice cream andother frozen comestibles, and the like. As the result of a recentinvention, such cartons have been provided with bottom flaps soconstructed as to be automatically unfolded and extended by manipulationof the side walls. combined with a side opening pull flap and hasresulted in a practical and useful carton, which has been widely used inthe field. However, these cartons werefso on structed that when the sideopening flap was pulled and theclosure wall opened, the bottom flapswere moved out of engagement and the carton-became partially unfoldedand unfit for further use.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved carton ofthe general character described, so constructed as to be keptsubstantially intact when 'opened' for the partial removal of thecontents, and thus, kept in condition for being reclosed for furtherpreservation of the remaining contents. Another object is to provide acarton having the above advantages which, in addition to the bottomclosure flaps, is also provided with a structural connection extendingbetween the front and rear walls of the carton for holding the walls andbottom flaps erect when the carton is opened byopening the closure wall.

. Another object is-to provide a carton of the above nature whichrequires no more material than cartons described above in which thebottom flaps are moved out of engagement when the side opening flap ispulled. Anotherobject is to provide a carton having the above advantagesand is so constructed as to be readily manufactured, convenientlyerected for filling and conveniently openedby the consumer, asdescribedabove.

.A further object is to afford a carton having the above advantages inaform capable of being manufactured in quantity lots, by known machinesand at relatively low cost.

- To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank, cut and.

Figs 5 and 6 are top plan views of the inside of the carton inprogressive positions of erection for filling; H

. Figs. 7 and 8 are bottom plan views from the outside of'the carton inprogressive positions of erection for fill- 2,878,987 I ,Fatented Mar.24,1959,

ing substantially corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the carton in fully erected position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the carton showing the same erected,filled and closed, and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the carton as viewed in Fig. 10 showingthe carton after being opened for removal of a portion of the contents.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed byway of illustration, is preferably made of a one-piece blank such asshown in Fig. 1, cut and scored to form front, intermediate, rear andclosure walls 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively, separated by parallelscored fold lines 28, 30 and 32, as shown. A securing strip 34 isfoldably connected with closure wall 26 along This automatic bottomconstruction has been 8 a fold line 36 which is parallel to fold lines28, 30 and 32, as shown in Fig. l. Securing strip 34 is adapted to bedetachaby glued to the free edge portion of the opposite or front wall20 when the walls are folded over, as hereafter described. Closure wall26 is preferably provided adjacent the bottom of the carton with a lineof weakening which may comprise, singly or in combination, a line ofperforations 38, a single slit 40 extending partially through thematerial forming the closure wall, or any known means whereby thematerial forming the' closure wall is weakened for controlling thedirection and extent of the tearing action of the closure wall. Line ofperforations 38 preferably comprises a series of spaced short slitswhich may extend partially or completely through the material formingthe closure wall, as

shown in Fig. 1, and this line of perforations 38 extends substantiallytransversely across the closure wall and is spaced upwardly from thebottom edge of the closure wall, as shown in Fig. 1. Slit 40 which ispartially cut through the closure wall on the under surface thereof enedsurface area 44 to aid in the opening of thecarto'n and topreventpeeling of front wall 20 when the car-ton is opened. securingstrip'34 is preferably provided with v a slit 46, adjacent score line36, to prevent an extension the carton is opened.

Side walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 are provided with top closure flaps 48,50,52 and 54, respectively, which are foldably connected therewith alonga 'score line'56. Flap 48 is'fo'rmed with a slit 58 to receive-a tongueor hook 60 on flap 52 for securing these top flaps in position for Iclosing the top of the carton. The carton is erected and filled'throughthe top, afterwhich the top flaps are folded' over and locked inposition for closing the carton. When" thecarton is opened, as hereafterdescribed, the top flaps preferably remain inlocked position for holdingthe top of the carton erect.

My carton is also preferably provided with bottom closure flaps whichare so constructed that thecarton may be completely folded and glued bythe manufacturer and thenshipped in collapsed, flat condition to theuser who may erect itby merely applying pressure to, the oppositecorners of the collapsed carton, as hereafter de scribed. Thebbttomflaps are so constructed that they. will fold inwardly inside the cartonwhen the carton side. walls are collapsedand will automatically moveoutwardof the carton when the carton is erected.

To this end, I preferablyprovide four bottom closure members or flapswhich are foldably connected with carton walls 20, '22, 24 and 26 alonga score line 62 (Fig. 1). Front and rear walls 20 and 24 preferablycarry inwardly folding flaps 64 and 66, respectively. These flaps areprovided with score lines 68 and 70, respectively, extending diagonallyacross and separating each of them into two portions, as at 72 and 74(Fig. 1) so that each may be folded over itself and over the side wallto which it is connected, as hereafter described.

The outer free edges of flaps 64 and 66 have the irregular shape shownin the drawings, including notches 76 and 78, respectively, forvengagement with each other in the erected position of the carton. Flap64 is cut away along one side thereof, as at 80 (Fig. l) for a purposehereafter described. Intermediate wall 22 has a substantiallyrectangular inner bottom flap 82 foldably connected therewith alongscore line 62 between flaps 64 and 66. Closure wall 26 has an innerbottom flap 84 foldably connected therewith along line 62. A member orfinger 86 is foldably connected by a fold line 88 to the upper or freeedge of front wall 20 adjacent the bottom end thereof, for a purposehereafter described.

In the folding and gluing of the blank, as shown in Fig. 2, bottom flap64 is folded upon itself along score line 68 and then folded inwardlyover front Wall 20 as shown. Flap 66 is similarly folded upon itself andfolded over rear wall 24. Flap 82 is folded over intermediate wall 22and flap 84 is folded over closure wall 26, as shown. Finger 86 isfolded along score line 88 over flap 64. As shown in Fig. 2, cut awayportion 80 of flap 64 is positioned to receive finger 86 so that finger86 folds over into contact with the inner portion 72 of flap 64. In thisposition of the parts, glue or other suitable adhesive is applied to arestricted area 90 of finger 86, to a similarly restricted area 92 offlap 64, and to a restricted area 94 offlap 66. Glue is likewise appliedin a narrow band 96 on securing strip 34 adjacent its line of foldleaving an unglued outer portion 98 to provide a free pull tab. Outerportion 98 is preferably formed with a diagonally extending fold line100 adjacent one end thereof for forming an extensionl02 which may bereadily grasped for initiating the opening of the carton.

In the further folding and gluing of the blank, closure wall 26 and flap84 are folded over rear wall 24 and its inwardly folded flap 66. At thesame time, front wall 20 together with inwardly folded flap 64 andflnger 86 are folded over intermediate wall 22 and flap 82. During thislatter operation finger'86 is directed and guided to enter betweenclosure wall 26 and its bottom flap 84, as can be seen in Fig. 3, withthe result that finger 86 is glued to the inside of closure wall 26adjacent the bottom end of the carton. The above action causes flap 64to become attached to inner bottom flap 82 and causes fiap 66 to becomeattached to inner bottom flap 84, thereby forming the bottom closure ofthe carton in two sections, each section comprising an inner and-outerflap. Securing strip 34 is simultaneously pressed down over and glued tothe weakened area 44 of front wall 20, thus completing the folding andgluing of the carton in the compact, collapsed, flat position shown inFig. 4, ready for storage and shipment to ice cream dispensers and thelike.

When it is desired to erect the carton for filling, this is quicklyaccomplished by inward pressure against the opposite edges 104 and 106(Fig. 4) which serves to separate and distend the side walls in theprogressive manner shown in Figs. and 6, as viewed through the open topof the container, and as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, as viewed from thebottom of the'conta'iner. The separation of front wall from intermediatewall 22 tends to pull inwardly folded flap 64' and bottom-flap 82 toerected" position, while the separation of closure wall 26 from rearwall 24 pulls inwardly folded flap 66 and inner bottom flap 84 toerected, position. A projection 108 on flap 64 rides along the outersurface of flap 84 and guides flap 64 over flap 84, as shown in Fig. 8,thereby initiating proper movement of the flaps towards erectedposition. As the carton continues toward erected position, the innerportion of flap 64 rides along the outer surface of flap 84 and passesbeneath the outer portion of opposite flap 66, as can be seen in Fig. 8.Similarly, the'inner portion of flap 66 passes beneath the outer portionof flap 64. As a result, the opposing edges of flaps 64 and 66 slidealong the outer surfaces of the opposite inner bottom flaps until flaps64 and 66 come into interengagement, with notches 76 and 78 interengagedas shown in Fig. 9. Such engagement of the notches tends to limit theerecting movement of flaps 64 and 66 with these flaps in a positionnormal to the walls of the cartoo. The erecting movement of the flaps isalso preferably limited by the engagement of inner bottom flap 84 withthe inside of flaps 64 and 66 along the bottomcorners of the carton.

With the bottom flaps in erected position, as shown in Fig. 8, the outerportion of flap 64 overlies the free end of score line 70 in flap 66while the outer portion of flap 66 overlies the free end of score line68 in flap 64. Inner flap 82 overlies the intersection of notches 76 and78. Inner flap 84 is preferably substantially the same size as thebottom of the carton and overlies flap 82 and diagonal score lines 68and 70 for substantially the full length thereof, thereby providing astrong, substantially leakproof construction and also providing a smoothinterior for the bottom end of the carton. It is to be noted that withthe carton bottom in its fully erected position as shown in Figs. 9, 10and 11, the bottom flaps are not in interlocked relationship, but ratherthey are merely in frictional interengagement with one another therebyreleasably holding the bottom closure and the lower end of the carton inerected position. Since each bottom closure section comprises an innerand outer flap, the bottom closure sections frictionally engage eachother.

Flaps 64 and 82, and flaps 66 and 84, when secured together as above,form two interengaging bottom closure sections, each comprising an innerand outer bottom flap.

The bottom closure sections are quickly snapped to their erectedpositions by merely pressing on the opposite corners of the carton 104and 106, leaving the top closure flaps in open position to receive thecom tents. The carton, resting on its bottom, is then filled and the topclosed by folding flaps 50 and 54 down across the filling opening, inorder, after which flap 48 is folded down followed by flap 52, thetongue 60 of which is engaged in slit 58 of flap 48 to secure theclosure of the top. or filling opening. It will be noted that tongue 60is on the flap of the rear wall to which the closure wall is attachedand is pointed in the direction of the closure wall so that an openingpull of the latter serves to keep the tongue engaged in slit 58 and tomaintain that end of the carton closed. The carton is now in thecondition shown in Fig. 10, and is ready for delivery to the consumer.

To open the carton, it is only necessary to grasp and pull the ungluedfree edge 98 or extension 102 of securing strip 34. For this purpose,tab or extension 102 may be bent relative to securing strip 34 alongdiagonal fold line 100. The opening of closure wall 26 is made easier bythe provision of weakened area 44 on the upper free edge of front wall20. This weakened area which is defined by slits 42, not only makes iteasier to break the detachable connection between securing flap' 34 andfront wall 20, but it also prevents undesired surface peeling of eitherthe front wall'or securing strip.

The surface peeling of closure wall 26 is also prevented by slit 46. e pU After securing strip 34 is separated from front wall 20 it isnecessary to separate closure wall 26 from the bottom flap 84 which isfoldably connected therewith. I have found it desirable to separate theabove wall and flap along a line extending substantially transverselyacross the closure wall adjacent the lower or bottom end of the carton.I have found that if the carton is made of cylinder board, and the blankis positioned so that the fibers extend substantially transverselyacross the closure wall, closure wall 26 may be readily moved to openposition, as shown in Fig. 11, and separated from bottom flap 84 bymerely exerting suflicient force in the opening direction, as by meansof an upward pull on securing strip 34.

However, I have found that closure wall 26 may be more easily separatedfrom bottom flap 84 if the closure wall is provided with a suitableline'of weakening along which the tearing action may readily take placein a predetermined manner and direction. To this end, closure wall 26 ispreferably provided with line of perforations 38 or slit 40, or both,extending substantially transversely thereacross adjacent the lower endof the carton. I have also found that while the tearing action can becontrolled by means of a line of perforations, the tearing action iseasier and more readily controlled if slit 40 is provided on the undersurface of the closure wall, in addition to perforations 38.

Line of perforations 38 preferably extends substantially transverselyacross closure wall 26, as shown in Fig. 1. Perforations 38 are spacedupwardly from the bottom edge of the carton by a distance somewhat lessthan the width of finger 86 at its base along fold line 88. Slit 40preferably extends parallel to perforations of line 38 and is spacedslightly upwardly from the line of perforations, as shown in Fig. 1.Slit 40 not only limits any upward tearing of the closure wall at anangle to the line of perforations, but slit 40 also prevents anyundesired surface peeling of the closure wall, which might result fromthe opening action. In addition, slit 40 may serve as either asupplemental line of weakening for the closure wall or as a substituteline of weakening. That is, closure wall 26 may separate along slit 40instead of perforations 38, or it may separate partially along the lineof perforations and partially along slit 40.

Regardless of the exact line of separation of closure Wall 26 frombottom flap 84, both ends of the carton remain erect when the carton isin opened position, as shown in Fig. 11. The upper end of the cartonremains erect because flap 54 which is foldably connected with closurewall 26 may move independently of top locking flaps 48 and 52, and fiap50, and therefore, the opening of the closure wall does not disturb theposition and locking action of flaps 48 and 52. That is, although topflap 54 is held in closed position by flaps 48 and 52, when the cartonis in closed position, as shown in Fig. 10, flap 54 is at the same timeheld out of contact with the contents of the carton by fiap 50.Therefore, when closure wall 26 is raised, flap 54 readily movesupwardly with the closure wall to its position shown in Fig. 11, whilethe remaining top flaps are maintained in closed position, therebyholding the upper end of the carton in shape, as shown in Fig. 11.

The lower end of the carton remains erect because of a positiveconnection between the front and rear walls of the carton adjacent thelower end. This connection is unaffected by the opening of closure wall26, and thus, continues to hold the lower end of the carton erect afterthe closure wall is opened. The above connection comprises finger 86 andthe lower portion of closure wall 26 which is left attached to thefinger when the closure wall is swung to open position. That is, finger86 is attached to the front Wall of the carton, while closure wall 26 isattached to the rear wall of the carton, and thus, finger 86 and thatportion of closure wall 26 to which the finger is attached, provide apositive structural connection extending from the front to the rear wallof the carton.

As a result of the above construction, the carton may be readily openedto its position shown in Fig. 11 to expose the carton contents forremoval by dipping to the desired extent. The top and bottom ends of thecarton remain erect and in closed position so that the carton may bereadily reclosed for replacing under refrigeration to preserve theresidue of the contents for further consumption. This is done by merelyguiding flap 54 into position outside of top flap 50 and inside oflocking flaps 52 and 48 and then swinging closure wall 26 downwardly toits closed position. It will be understood that if desired, the upperend of the carton may also be opened by merely disengaging lockingtongue 60 and slit 58.

Thus it will be seen from the above description that my inventionprovides a carton which may be readily and economically manufacturedwith the usual materials and by known methods and standard machines incompact, collapsed condition for storage or shipment to food dispensers.The latter may erect the carton by merely pressing on its oppositecorners to erect the automatic bottom construction. Thereafter, thecarton may be easily filled at the top and closed in the usual manneruntil ready for delivery to the consumer. The consumer can readily openthe carton to remove a portion of the contents by pulling on tab 102 soas to swing the closure wall into open position in which the contentsare exposed for dipping out to the extent desired. Thereafter, thecarton may be reclosed to preserve the remaining contents. In addition,it will be seen that cartons having the above advantages may be readilymanufactured with a minimum of wastage of cardboard stock material.

The invention, as herein disclosed, comprises related embodiments of theinvention disclosed in my copending patent applications, Serial Nos.514,957, now Patent No. 2,804,256, and 589,786, filed June 13, 1955 andJune 6, 1956, respectively, and certain features disclosed but notclaimed herein are claimed in my said copending applications.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects andwhile it has been herein disclosed by refcrence to the details of apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an i1- lustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, side, rear andclosure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall andsaid front wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, saidwalls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto atthe opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs ofopposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flaps being fixedlysecured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of the cartonin sections, said sections being located on opposite sides of saiddetachable connection and on opposite sides of a hinge connectionbetween the side and rear walls, each of said outer flaps being formedwith a substantially diagonal fold line and being adapted to foldinwardly at said fold line between said walls together with therespective inner fiap when said walls are collapsed, said bottom closuresections being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls andinto frictional and detachable engagement by the erecting movement ofsaid walls, said closure wall being divisible adjacent the bottom of thecarton into two portions, one of said portions being connected to saidclosure wall bottom flap, the other of said portions being detachablefrom said front wall and separable from said-first mentioned portionformovement to openposition to expose the carton contents, and a memberintegral with and foldably connected atone end to said front wall andhaving a glued connection with the underside of said first mentionedportion of said closure wall, said member and said first mentionedportion of said closure wall maintaining a fixed connection between saidfront and rear walls for holding said bottom sections in erected closedposition.

2. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blankcut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, side, rear andclosure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall andsaid front wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, saidwalls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto atthe opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs ofopposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer fiapszbeing fixedlysecured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of the. cartonin sections, said sections being located on opposite sides of saiddetachable connection and on, op.- posite sides of a hinge connectionbetween the side and rear walls, each of said outer flaps being formedwith a substantially diagonal fold line and being adapted to foldinwardly at said fold line between said walls together with. therespective inner flap-when said walls, are collapsed, said bottomclosure sections being moved to erected closed position normal to saidwalls and into, frictional and detachable engagement by the erectingmovement of said walls, said closure wall having a line of weakeningextending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton for dividingsaid closure wall into two portions, one of said portions beingconnected to said closure wall bottom flap, the other of said portionsbeing detach able from said front wall and separable along said line ofweakening from said first mentioned portion for move ment to openposition to expose the carton contents, and a member integral with andfoldably connected at one end to said front wall and having a gluedconnection with the underside of said, first mentioned portion ofsaidclosure wall, said member and said first mentioned portion of, saidclosure wall maintaining a fixed connection between said front and rearwalls for holding said bottom sections in erected closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

